Tanzanian arrested in 430,000-baht swindling case

Maneekorn Megmorg, 54, and Thanchanok Duangpang, 42, both from Yasothon, tracked down Gailly “Sunday” Mwakibinga, 35, to a 7-Eleven store on Soi Buakaow and detained him for police Jan. 16. Police confiscated $2,200 and two mobile phones from him.

Maneekorn, owner of a beer bar near Lake Mabprachan, told police that Mwakibinga had gone to her bar on Jan. 13, offering a Thai baht-U.S. dollar swap that would guarantee her exchange-rate profits much greater than through any bank.

She accepted his proposal, mortgaging her pickup truck for 130,000 and arranged to meet the African at his hotel to make the swap. However, when she went to his room, she said she detected some perfume-like smell in the air and then passed out. When she awoke, Mwakibinga was gone with her 130,000 baht.

Thanchanok, who owns a beer bar in Udon Thani, told a similar tale, saying she mortgaged land in Issan for 300,000 baht, went to his hotel and also was robbed.

Police said Mwakibinga confessed and agreed to repay the victims. He was sent to Nongprue Police Station to face criminal charges.